Board of Fulbright Scholars Resigns in Protest over Trump Administration Actions
Scoop: The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board members have collectively tendered their resignations, accusing the Trump administration of dirty political tricks disrupting the prestigious exchange program.
The 12-strong board leveled charges against Trump's team for basically snatching the board's authority by restricting Fulbright scholarships for a substantial number of deserving candidates chosen for the 2025-2026 academic year. The accused scholarships explored topics as diverse as biology, engineering, music, history, and more [1][2].
Furthermore, the board claimed that the administration is currently subjecting around 1,200 overseas Fulbright recipients to an unnecessary review process. This move could lead to even more rejections down the line, according to the board's reservations [2].
The board argued that these actions run counter to the statute and thwart the Fulbright mission and the values, such as freedom of speech and academic independence, that Congress stipulated in the statute [1][2].
Additionally, the board oversees the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, which affords international graduate students, young professionals, and artists the opportunity to study and research in the United States. Launched by Congress in 1946 under the Presidency of Harry Truman, the government-funded, non-partisan program works in over 150 countries, providing scholarships to about 4,000 foreign students yearly [1].
In a joint declaration, the board emphasized that they have lodged legal issues and strong objections with senior Trump administration officials multiple times, yet these concerns persistantly go unacknowledged [2].
Reacting to the board's resignation, a senior State Department official deemed it as a "political stunt designed to undermine President Trump" [3]. However, the board held that the decision wasn't taken lightly and urged Congress, the courts, and future Fulbright Boards to thwart the administration's efforts to undermine, dismantle, or potentially eliminate one of the country's most respected and invaluable programs [1][2].
"Slipping politics and ideological mandates into the Fulbright program breaches the law's intent enacted by Congress almost eight decades ago," the board concluded [1].
Fun Fact: Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright program has supported approximately 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, and researchers from around the world [2].
Sources:
[1] Gerstenzang, T. (2021, June 16). Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board members resign in complaint about political interference under the Trump administration. ABC News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fulbright-foreign-scholarship-board-members-resign-complaint/story?id=79903744
[2] Murray-Carpright, C. (2021, June 16). Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board accuses Trump administration of political interference. The Hill. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/education/567723-fulbright-foreign-scholarship-board-accuses-trump-administration-of
[3] Roberts, H. (2021, June 16). Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigns, accusing Trump administration of political interference. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/politics/fulbright-board-resigns-over-political-interference/index.html
- The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's resignation letter outlines concerns about the Trump administration's manipulation of policy-and-legislation, specifically limiting scholarships for diverse fields of study like science, music, and history.
- The board's resignation statement also points out the administration's international policy that subjects approximately 1,200 Fulbright scholars to an unnecessary review process, possibly leading to further rejections.
- The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's collective resignation emphasizes the administration's actions, which they deem as a breach of the original intent of the law enacted by Congress almost eight decades ago, are threatening the independence of academic pursuits in general-news as well as the mission and values of the Fulbright program.
